e fact that the tastes of the boys ran a
good deal to costumes denoting the Soldier of '76 and Blackbeard, the
Pirate, the novelty and variety shown by the girls made the scene a
delightful one.

Nancy Nelson and her mates of the sophomore class were not likely to be
wall-flowers this year, or to lack for partners. The former's striking
costume marked her out, too, and after the grand march, she was sought
out by Bob Endress.

"Oh, I'm afraid I don't dance well enough, Mr. Endress," the girl said
in a whisper, and blushing deeply.

"You do everything well, I believe," declared he. "Now, don't disappoint
me. I've been trying ever since that night I found you and your chum in
the river, to get a talk with you. But you're so shy."

"I--I'm always busy," replied Nancy. "And--and you know the Madame is
very strict about us talking with any of you boys."

"Wow! we won't bite you," laughed Bob. "Besides, I meet Grace and Cora
Rathmore often. I tried to pump them about your accident; but they
declared they knew nothing about it. I guess you warned them not to
tell."

Nancy had nothing to say to this, but she could, not refuse to go on the
floor with Bob, although she saw Grace, dressed to represent a gaudy
tulip, glaring at them with blazing eyes from across the room.

CHAPTER XXV

GETTING ON

Jennie Bruce did not go home that Christmas. Instead, she remained at
Pinewood Hall with Nancy and was "coached" for the after-New Year exams.
So she was able to send home better reports for her first half-year's
work than she had had before.

Nancy took to study naturally; it was a "grind" for Jennie, and she was
frank to admit it.

Nancy stuck to her books just as closely after Thanksgiving as she had
before; but as a sophomore she had more freedom than was usually granted
to the freshies. Therefore she was able, if she wished, to enter more
fully into the social gayeties of her classmates.

And after the very successful masque on Thanksgiving Eve, she could not
escape Bob Endress altogether. He _was_ a nice boy, and Nancy liked him.
Besides, there were two topics that drew the two together.

Bob never got over talking about that August afternoon, that seemed so
long ago, when Nancy had helped to rescue him from the millrace. On the
other hand, Nancy was quite as grateful to him for saving her and Jennie
from the river.

So, as well as might be, Bob and Nancy were very good friends. Bob would
be graduated in J